Thames Waananga strengthens women

Tu Tangata, Issue 20, 1 October 1984, Page 24

Thames Waananga strengthens women

na Damiane Rikihana

He iwi

For many women of the Ngati Maru tribe a waananga held in Thames was the beginning of discovering themselves and their strengths.

The theme of the three day waananga was ‘Te Ao Hurihuri’ an appropriate title for many of the women present who in the past few months have been undergoing dramatic changes and discoveries in their lives. Kowhai whai, tukutuku, whaikorero and learning to karanga are just a few of the things they have concerned themselves with. Such experiences were included in the waananga and discussed by the thirty women and their children who attended the hui. The waananga hosted by Matai Whetu kohanga reo, of Thames, under the guidance of their kaiako, Marie Oliver, covered take close to their hearts.

This included progressive maori health developments, spiritual healing, rape and the law, youth workers and people displaced in the urban areas, court work, te kohanga reo developments extending into primary schools,

the Matua Whangai scheme and its success in the Hauraki area and a demonstration of harakeke work by the local women. “The Ngati Maru women needed to be in touch with themselves, their heritage and their places as maori women in the Hauraki area” said Mrs Oliver. Valuable input came from ‘Te Amorangi’, a maori womens group based in Auckland, who offered to share their experiences in working with problems confronted in the urban metropolis. Other speakers came from Rotorua, Paeroa and the Coromandel district

and included a doctor, teachers, writers, youth workers and students. “For a lot of the women here it was the first such waananga for many of us. We are now more aware than ever that we all must get out there and do some-

thing for ourselves, our children, and maori people at large,” adds Mrs Oliver. The most significant thing that resulted from the hui was the creation of a maori womens group on the marae, taking its name from the hui. "We are looking at the courthouse where we feel we can set up support systems for parents and their children who may be in court. A refuge centre here needs to have some maori content or representative to cater for the needs of maori women and children.” Most importantly the women hope to work as a support group to encourage one another and nuture the taonga of their tipuna.